Self-adjusting counter-balance



(No Model.)

. G. M. HERRIOK.

SELF ADJUSTING COUNTER BALANCE.

No. 414,642. Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

HIIIIIIIIIQ 'ATTORNEY.

"act conjointl-y 45 roll around in I50 fectly true;

UNIT D STATES GEORGE M..I\IERRIOK, orenEENiw-oon, AINE.

SELF-ADJUSTINGCOUNTER-BALANCE. I

SPECIFICATION formin'g'part of Letters Patent n 414,e42,-dated November s, 1889'.

Application filed April 13,1889. Serial No. 307,207. (No model.) I

To all whom it mag concern: I I Be it'kno'wn that I, GEORGE M. Hnnruon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Green-- wood, in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Self- Adjusting Counter-Balance, of which the following is a specification.

In the construction of machines which have rapidly-revolving parts it is necessary to care- I 0 fully counterbalance pieces of irregular shape, and when these pieces are tool-holders or for any other reason require frequent changes and adjustments the unavoidable disturbance of the balance becomes very troublesome.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which shall automatically compensate within predetermined limits any irregulariies inthe I In carrying out my invention Imake' use of the combinations shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a'sectional elevation of a heavyrimmed wheel W mounted upon a shaft A. In the rim of this wheel a groove S is turned, which is'covered by the close-fitting ring 0.

Fig. 2 represents balls b, which fit loosely in the groove S.

Fig. 3 .is a sectional elevation of a bowlshaped wheel intended to project over the piece to be balanced.

Figs. 4,5, and 6 are sections of wheel-rims,-

showing different positions of the groove S. Fig. 7 shows a shaft having upon it a disk D, having two grooves in its face, and a pul- 3 5 ley W, having three grooves in its rim, which to counterbalance the tool holder P-upon the same shaft. To use my invention,

. S a sufficient number of the balls I). More 40 than a su'hicient number will do no harm. I then fasten on the cover O,which, keeps them Minthegroove.

The device will now operate as follows:

. When the machine isset in motion, the balls the groove until the friction against its sides brings them to the exact speed of the piece in whichithe groove is cut,when they will commence to revolve as though form ing part of that-piece if it is running .per-

but if it vibrates the groove which lies to that side of the shaft which springs hard and smoothmetallic I. place in the grooveoutward. will move faster than that upon the other. This, as a final result, moves the balls into a position where their centrifugal force just balances the force tending to vibrate the piece. A single ball if made of just the proper weight would take the proper balancing position but by using se'veralsmaller balls I avoid all necessity of adjusting their weight, since they will take up such a position that the superfluous weight may be considered 'vided into parts which balance each other. It is necessary that the counter-weights should be readyto take up a new position at the slightest vibration of the shaft. I therefore use for them smooth metal balls rolling ina smooth groove. Anythingwhich is in this respect equivalent to the balls and'groove may which is for any reason irregular and uncertam in lts movements is worse for the-purposes of this invention-.-

in the surface of a heavy-rimmed wheel, as shown, and by so doingmake a useful combination of a fly-wheel and self-adjusting co'un t'erpoise; but they may also be cutinv any other revolving 'piece or in a separate piece attached thereto by bolts or screws. Whenever. possible to do so,

when this cannot be done the groove maybe limited to apart of it, if the weight of the balls is adjust-ed quite closely weight needcd'as a balance.

the manner of using it, that as my device is applicable to machinery of all sorts and is usable underwidelyevaryingjconditions I do not limit myself to the right to make such changes and substitutions was called upon to adapt my inventionto any particular piece of mechanism.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;-

1.- In combination with an unbalanced piece of mechanism mounted upon a horizontal shaft, a, revolving piece having a continuous closed annular cavity concentric with the be substituted for themebut a'counter-weightthan useless Wh en convenient, I prefer to cut the grooves to the exact- Having now described my invention and I wish it understood aswould naturally suggest themselves to aperson skilled :in designing machinery who as di- I prefer to cut the groove around the whole circumference; but

' each other and with IO shaft, and one or more balancing-weights free to move in this cavity, all as set forth. I 2: In a device for counte'rbalancing machinery, a revolving piece having in it a groove turned from the same line of centers as the shaft upon which it is mounted, one or more inetal balls fitting loosely in this groove, and a cover for the groove, all in combination with the piece to be'counterbalanced, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a revolving tool- :holder, of a fiy-wheel of suitabledimensions 'to steady its motion when working, which has i in its rim a. groove concentric withthe shaft,

a plurality of metal balls rolling freely therein, 1

and a cover therefor, all as and for the purpose set forth; 7 j

4; The combination, with a piece to be balanced, of one or counter-balances mounted upon the same shaft, each of which consists of a wheel or disk having one or plurality of balls rolling freely therein, and, a cover therefor, all as set forth.

Witnesses:-

WESLEY C. KIMBALL, 0. BERRY.

more separate self-ad; usting more grooves in its rim, a

GEORGE M. HERRICK. 

